Speaking this week to Mark Medina of Sportskeeda, Warriors center Kevon Looney reflected on Golden State’s decision to acquire six-time All-Star forward Jimmy Butler in a five-team blockbuster trade.
“He’s great wherever he has been,” Looney said of Butler. “Individually, he has a way of elevating the group. He’s able to elevate guys that you wouldn’t think are great because they play well next to him. I’m excited to play with him and see how he is and get to experience it. I know that he’s tough as nails. I love playing with guys like that. I’m excited to see how it goes.”
In Butler’s debut as a Warrior on Saturday, the 6’7″ swingman helped propel his new club to a road win against Chicago, racking up 25 points to go along with four assists. He shot 7-of-12 from the floor and made 11-of-13 attempts from the foul line, an encouraging sign for a Golden State team that ranked dead last entering Saturday in free throw makes per game (14.7) and free throw percentage (72.0%).
“This was probably the most eventful trade deadline that I’ve been in from the standpoint of things going on around the league and internally,” Looney said. “Since I’ve been here, we haven’t really made a lot of trades. So to be involved in it was surreal.”
There’s more out of Golden State:
- Warriors players were impressed by what they saw from Butler on Friday, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Head coach Steve Kerr is looking to occasionally stagger the minutes of Butler and Curry with an eye on keeping a star scorer on the floor at all times. Following a superlative 24-point third quarter in which he was played all 12 minutes, All-NBA guard Stephen Curry was rested for the first several minutes of the fourth. Butler helped stabilize Golden State in his absence. Kerr specifically praised Butler’s attitude after the game. “That’s kind of the key, to me,” Kerr said. “It’s the swagger that he gives us. He gives confidence to the rest of the group, including Steph and Draymond [Green], and that’s important. When all those guys are feeling empowered and confident, you feel the difference. … This is the whole point of the deal, to inject that confidence and presence Jimmy brings.”
- The Warriors’ new core features three Hall of Famers in their mid-30s: Curry (36), Butler (35), and Green (34). With $287MM owed to those players after this season, Golden State has the most money committed to players in their age-35 seasons and beyond, observes Frank Urbina of HoopsHype. Green will turn 35 in March.
- In case you missed it, Butler’s tumultuous last weeks with Miami were recently detailed in full.
love jimmy but hall of famer??
NBA hall of fame standards aren’t as high as MLB or NFL
There is no NBA Hall of Fame.
you and RenoChris should not be allowed on this board. Fact that anyone can compare sports. Only shows your knowledge of the game. You have none.
I mean he lost two nba finals that has to mean something, right?
Brabo , After your announcement that the Butler trade brought you to put being a GSW fan on indefinite “PAUSE”, can we take it that you’ve “RESUMED” ?
Was it Butler’s extraordinarily successful debut that brought you back?
Seriously, glad you’re here, you’re a great poster :—)
Committing so much to three players makes it hard to field a 14-man main roster for the minimum amount of time since they’re so close to the apron.
A bunch of 10 day contracts of players to look at for next season.
They can finagle it by signing one more since Post puts them at 12 to a pro rated ROS contract and then sign a player to a 10 day let it expire and wait the 14 days your allowed to be below 14 roster spots twice in a season then sign one or two more players at that point. Especially if they promote a 2 way they can get the number pretty low on the contract.
Chap, what are Dubs’ prospects on the buyout market?
I mean depends on who gets bought out. They dont have to worry about all the second apron teams on the pricy guys but it sounds like a bunch of the good ones arent getting bought out. I think a big if any come available that are rotation or stretch, and any wing that can shoot 3s. Im not sure anything all that interesting will shake free though. Like if Brogdon or Brown get bought out they should be all over that. Maybe Capela.
Its going to take time getting used to a warrior player going to the line shooting free throws. Refs never call fouls on Curry even clear fouls.
This is just huge for Warriors because they will all get more free throws and we have someone who can get guarantee points in crunch time. Butler is a difference maker. If he doesnt get hurt, watch out for Warriors.
Again they would have wrecked the Bulls last night if Kerr made adjustments when he needs to, and he needs to stop using Post as a starter, the 1Q offense just hasn’t been there with him. Green Kuminga Butler Moody Curry is going to be fun to watch though!
Well, probably based on last night’s game, the GSW fans averse to acquiring/ extending Butler seem to be taking a day off. If healthy, the 3 oldies will make for a very tough out in the playoffs this year, and an even tougher one next year. Maybe that’s all there is, just a chance for a few years. Still, it’s a deal that had to be made.
Whoever said “Jimmy only pulls this crud when he wants a new contract, the second he gets paid, he turns into Playoffs Jimmy”. Aside from the 1Q he certainly was Playoffs Jimmy last night.
Maybe all Steph really needed was a true superstar all along. Wiggins is not one of those, despite GSW fans claiming he is smh…
Wiggins is a great talent. No mamba mentality like Jimmy. Jimmy is best 2way player of his generation. He’s also one of smartest players ever. Since most here are casual fans. They can’t see it or appreciate it. Warriors would add a real C. They could cause trouble in these playoffs. Not getting Vucevic was a mistake.
I agree 100% Al about all of that.
Not getting Vooch was a mistake, but Post might be a similar player. Once we see Dray, Kuminga, Jimmy and Steph out there, GSW goes from mid to scary/a threat again.
As long as we get good Jimmy, Warriors dynasty -isn’t- over…many scared of this…
Yeah but they talk about doing all they can for Curry now. Warriors should have every C available in SF lol. Lets see what they do when players start to get bought out or cut. Have to add a big. Have to
Butler, for the past 10 years, has been a superstar, hiding in plain sight. He’s never been valued quite that way across the league, probably because he doesn’t fit into the package that most of the league prefers its superstars to come in. His off court persona for one, which can replicate that of a belligerent 12-year old. But nobody should confuse that with his on court persona, which is mature and very intelligent, or ignore the breath of skill set or his ability to draw on it to impact the W/L column.
Jimmy acts out when he feels unloved. Riley dealt with him as if he were a colleague/ key employee, which he is. But he’s one that needed to be treated more like an insecure girlfriend. You can tell her to shut up, and direct her to course correct, and she’ll do both, but only after you tell her how much you love her. Riley’s last minute attempt to cry his way to foregiveness was destined to fail; no second chances on some things.
Jimmy deserves a finals mvp ring
He needs A ring…
For being a bigger primadonna than anyone in league history?
Nah he has to earn it… And won’t get that chance on this team even if they magically make it to the title somehow, it’ll be Steph getting that award for carrying Draymond and Jimmy that far…
Fitting cover image. The Bulls’ past vs their future. Haha
29 mins, 25 pts, 2 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk
FG .583%. 0-1 (3pt), 11-13 FT 84%
Jimmy plays to win. Cause thats what this NBA is about. You have to be a real basketball fan to appreciate this. I get not liking his way of dealing with ownership or teammates at times. Like Rodman he’s achieved more in NBA than anyone ever thought he would. And therefore does it his way. He’s a better player than Rodman. So easily a HOF player. Bam became the player he is cause of Jimmy. Ive read some say here Jimmy and Dra would bang heads. The one player who will love and respect Jimmy the most Is the one who KNOWS exactly what he brings to the team.
Warriors are a better team. And Jimmy is motivated. Warriors were smart and really trying to make a statement . They would bring in every available C out there. And sign one even two.
GSW need him to be a superstar, but also to create for Steph. He did both perfectly for 3 quarters, the 1Q was rough but then GSW launched back into gear and looked kinda scary again. Jimmy looked like you said, motivated!
Kelly Olynyk would be nice.
How are Butler’s new teammates able to reconcile their affection for him while witnessing the childish antics that he has pulled off on his previous team? How is that kind of behavior good for any team?
Looney really has gone looney.
Miami decided not to extend him so he wanted out.
He’s 35 and looking for one more payday. Probably talked to them before the season started, and as the deadline neared, he did his best to make sure he would be shipped out of town.., whether you approve of his methods or not, we’re talking millions and millions of dollars on the line.
It looked like Phoenix was glad to pursue him in a major way as were the Warriors. I don’t see a problem at all.
I wasn’t the first person to say it but: every time Jimmy has done “antics” in the past, its been during a contract negotiation period. Once he gets paid, Playoffs Jimmy appears.
Reynaldo’s- the Warriors’ players and fans have been desensitized to craziness by the last 10 years of Draymond Green. There are no consequences, and nobody cares.
In the words of Al Davis, “Just win, baby!”
You have to understand Butler’s point of view. Butler singlehandedly put Miami back on the map. They were just an average team before he got there. The franchise, the coaches incl Spo, Pat Riley made tons of money because of Butler. Butler also helped many of his teammates get great contracts amd get established in mba. So for him to not get an extension(basically another 1 yr), it was a slap on the face for him – ultimate disrespect. It is what it is. He wanted a change of scenery for new motivation, but he was right about his value because Warriors gave him $121m extension. Butler is still top 10 player in the league.
Butler’s contract is for $113m, not $121m.
link to nba.com
Yeah that was the erroneous number Shams reported before correcting it. It would have been more than the max.
Re: Butler’s contract, the most he can get if he signs his extension now would be a projected 35% of next year’s cap, with a 5% raise for the following season.
Next year’s cap can’t go higher than $154,647,000, so 35% would be $54,126,450 and a 5% raise would be $56,832,773 for a total of $110,959,223.
Some erroneous numbers ($121MM, $113MM, etc.) are coming out a result of bad math (120% raise for next season, 8% raise for the following season, etc.)
This team played a bulls team which is on the borderline of starting to tank…let’s see what happens when they come up against Cavs, Celts and the stacked west. Curry had an amazing game and Jimmy played good which is encouraging. They still have no solid big and depth (I think) is questionable. Not a bad trade getting Jimmy, but not a trade that’s going to bring a championship
Did you even watch the game? It was a 50 point swing. Bulls played great for a quarter but GSW played transcendentally better once Jimmy and Steph started clicking. Mavs already dealing with injuries to AD. Warriors about to be full strength for the first time since opening the year 12-3.
Guskinn said:
> Not a bad trade getting Jimmy, but not a trade that’s
> going to bring a championship
True, a championship is still a long-shot. But no team, especially a young one, wants to play Steph, Butler, and Draymond in a 7 game series.
Injuries and matchups play a much bigger role than people want to believe in a lot of championship runs.
Warriors are just too old and fragile to take seriously… Both physically and mentally…
Blah, blah, blah.
Get used to it… lol
Get used to what? This is a great time to be a Warriors fan.
Curry still on the team and they’re knocking at the door of the playoffs. They just brought in a mamba bulldog, which will be a huge change from casual Andrew.
So I say blah blah blah because your assessment is off. The league does take the Warriors seriously. It ain’t over. You’re wrong again.
I did watch the bulls game..it really was a mix of Steph just all of a sudden shooting the lights out… warriors picking up their defence…and the bulls absolutely looking terrible (after their quick start)
Was great to watch Steph like that…true star of the game.
But I still don’t think this roster is anything to get excited over…cannot see it…and that’s not to say I don’t like some of the players..I like Jimmy, podz, moody, Steph and dray…and even looney and Payton…but come on..this team is not that great
OK, then stay on the sidelines and get out of the way. You’re holding up traffic.
It’s gonna be a nice run to the 6 seed and we’ll see what happens then. If anything, it’ll be exciting.
Then we’ll see what the summer brings to the roster. Still a good time to be a Golden State Warrior fan in spite of a lot of folks who are pissin’ an moanin’.